Taza Chocolate Tours

The Deal: Taza Chocolate Factory Tour for Two. Plus 10% off purchases.

I know what you’re going to say, “Umm… you could just save money by not touring a chocolate factory. It’s not a necessity.” You’re right. I could. But, really, gym membership and dinners out aren’t, strictly speaking, necessary, either (although food and exercise are). Who wouldn’t want to tour a chocolate factory?

Besides, a few months ago, my friend and I were at a Yelp event where Taza handed out free chocolate samples. At that point, we were excited to see that they offered tours. (I was also shocked and surprised to enjoy things like salt & pepper chocolate.) We talked about doing it, but never set a date, and then - voila! This deal appeared in my inbox. It was serendipity.

Now, the chocolate factory tour is a good deal anyway, because it’s only $5 per person. So, $5 for two people isn’t exactly life-changing. I had a 20% off coupon from Gilt City, so for me it was $4. Best deal ever? No. A good way to spend an afternoon? YES! It's Taza Chocolate! It’s high-quality, incredibly delicious chocolate!

On top of that, the tour is fun. Taste delicious, gritty, raw Taza chocolate and let it melt on your tongue. Compare the 80% dark chocolate bar made from Dominican Republic cacoa with the 87% dark chocolate bar made from Bolivian beans. You really can taste the difference. Feel the flavors going down your throat. See what chocolate looks like on the plant, and when you open the pots (hint: slimy and gross), or as it becomes liquid. Watch the final product plop into the trays. Taste, learn, and enjoy.

Bonus: They are doing a gelato tasting on Saturday, June 2, if anyone is free. Call them for details, because that's all I know.

Cost: $4
Estimated Value: It’s tough to actually estimate this one, since 10% off on chocolate could potentially be worth hundreds of dollars to someone like me. We’ll call it $10 for the tour, since you don’t have to actually buy anything (but why wouldn’t you want to?).
Estimated Savings: I spent $22.50 on chocolate, thereby saving $2.25 for a total of $8.25 saved on this one.
Total Estimated Deal Savings, to Date: $950.25

Store Rewards Cards

Ok, this one isn't about a daily deal, but I'm still talking about saving money. Generally, I am not a fan of “extreme couponing.” My experience with coupons tends to be that they are primarily for products I don’t want, don’t use, would never consider buying without the coupon, and often cost more, even without the coupon, than the product I would have purchased otherwise. So, the thought of spending hours looking for coupons to double and triple and put together and end up taking my grocery bill from $100 to $3.50 doesn’t really appeal to me - because I value my time, and I’m not terribly excited by the idea of winding up with a lot of food that I don’t actually want to eat.

Coupon sites such as Coupon Mom are pretty big these days. Before heading to the store, I took 10 minutes with my shopping list to see what I could do to save a bit. Many of the coupons were for things like Celine Dion fragrances, which I simply have no interest in owning, or using, at any price. Some required me to shop at specific stores - if I can save $5 shopping at Wal-Mart, but it takes me half an hour each way to get there, and costs me $4 in gas, plus $2 in tolls to get there - I didn’t save any money. I actually lost money, plus the time I wasted. Many of them are for products I can’t possibly use, because I don’t have kids/pets/allergies/heartburn, etc. Some of the coupons require me to sign up for email lists, which I’d rather not do. I do appreciate that I can save $1 on contact lens solution, but I still have a five month supply, so I don’t see a lot of benefit to buying it now (especially since I live in a small walk-up apartment, and my parking space is not nearby. I don’t need to load up on stuff I can’t use now). If those sites are for you, more power to you. They don’t work for me. I didn’t end up printing any coupons. (Which is probably good because, seriously, when you factor in the cost of ink and paper, I really don't think I save anything.)

With that said, I am a big fan of store cards that give you discounts. I know, I know, the store could make everything cheaper - they won’t. I know that you can just use the courtesy cards that most of these stores now make available. But I don’t, because you get better deals if you have your own account. I do realize that some people are really concerned that the store will track your spending habits to implant aliens in their brains and force them to wear high waters, dye their hair pick, or otherwise follow their whereabouts at all times. I pity the person who has nothing better to do than follow me around. I admit, though, that companies do track your spending habits and keep that information for future use. Just ask the father who found out through a set of Target coupons that his teenaged daughter was pregnant. (Oops!)

I’m just not convinced that this type of data mining is all bad. A few months ago, I received a page of nine coupons from the local grocery store. Six of them were from items that I purchase every single time I go shopping (three, I didn’t use). After futilely searching for coupons that were relevant to me online, I went to the store. Using the handheld scanners that accept your card number in advance, I went around the store making my purchases. I also have coupons printed for me based on prior purchases. The end result is that I saved $17.86 on stuff that I was planning to buy, anyway. To me, that’s a much better deal than saving $5 by purchasing 11 jars of applesauce. If the trade-off is that some executive out there (or, more likely, someone at a much lower level) knows that I will always buy Garelick Half & Half instead of the Stop ‘N Shop brand when I have a coupon, well, I think I can live with that.

Boston Pole Fitness - Kenmore

The Deal: Three 75-minute pole dancing classes for $29. There was an alternative for a pole dancing party, which I totally would have done if I had more than three friends who would have been willing to do it with me.

The Frog Pond was easily my favorite deal, but this was a very strong second. Why? First of all, because there is NO FREAKING WAY I would ever have had the nerve to try pole dancing if Boston Pole Fitness hadn't run several deals all around the same time, meaning that, every couple of days, I was thinking, "Hmmmmm......" I mentioned it to a friend, expecting her to laugh at me - but she thought it was an awesome idea. So, while I was all excited, before I stopped to think, "What the hell am I doing?" - I bought two. This was also one of my favorite purchases, made back in November 2011 (and may be partially to blame for my bizarre addiction).

Boston Pole Fitness is located inside the Gold's Gym on Landsdowne, across the street from Fenway Park. This means that I was glad to be going on January - there's no way I'd want to fight the crowd at a Red Sox game to go pole dance. But, in January, it's an easy bus ride to Kenmore Square, and then just a short walk around the corner to Gold's Gym.

My first thought upon arriving was, "Oh, crap." There were girls in teeny shorts and high-heels prancing around up and down the pole, looking like superstars. Note: Arriving before the end of the advanced class is not good for your self-esteem and confidence. But, I did it. I tried three different classes with three different instructors, and it was awesome. Who ever thought I could learn to climb a pole upside-down? Sideways? Not me, but I can! (Sort of.) I still can't do spins, but I only went to three classes. I had an amazing time, and it was one of the most thorough full-body workouts I've ever had. Just beware - you will bruise. A lot. I wound up with bruises up and down my entire body including, mysteriously, the top of my head. Still afraid? That's OK. They have pole circuit fitness classes, which are a little less intense, and everyone is super nice. No one laughs when you fall on your head. In fact, if you can do it slowly and a little artfully, they'll applaud you for doing a perfect upside-down dismount. (Sure, that's what happened. Yup.)

Go with a friend. That takes it from stressful and difficult, yet fun, to an absolute blast, with some strenuous physical activity in the middle. Don't necessarily take your most fit friend, or one who's a professional stripper, but take someone who can help you see the fun in pole burn on your inner thighs (yes, you read that right).

Don't believe that it's awesome? Check out these reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/boston-pole-fitness-boston

Cost: $29
Value: $70
Savings: $41
Total Estimated Deal Savings: $943

The Frog Pond: Ice Skating with Hot Cocoa

The Deal: $25 for Ice Skating, Hot Cocoa, and VIP Access for Two.

This is hands-down my favorite deal, because I just had such a great time. Also, there's a good chance it will be repeated next year, since I saw it advertised twice before I went ahead and bought it. There are two options here - for $9, you get admission with skate rental, and a free hot cocoa, normally a $17 value. That's already a pretty good deal. Or, you can pay $25 to get in, get skate rental for two, get hot cocoa, and skip the line so you don't have to wait, normally a $52 value. (Disclaimer: I wound up going on a Tuesday night, and there was no line, but that's not the point. I did the math, and we still saved money).

I would probably never have done this without the deal (Special thank you to my niece for making me learn to ice skate with her in November - literally two days before this deal was published). I always thought the pond would be full of couples, skating hand in hand. I have no idea why I thought this. I bought the deal so I could go with my boyfriend, but when he wound up unable to go, I still wanted to get my money's worth from the deal. I almost sold it, but, luckily, there were no takers. So, I called a friend, and I am so, so, so glad I did.

First, there's a freaking pond in the middle of Boston Common! Yes, I knew that. Yes, I expect most of you knew that. But what I didn't know is how beautiful it is to skate around that pond at dusk in March. And I didn't know how much fun it could be to laugh and talk to a good friend while skating around in circles. Or how cool it would be to run into other friends of ours (first time that's happened to me in 4.5 years in Boston). I suck at skating. It didn't matter. The views were amazing, the skating was fun, and the cocoa was... well, it was free hot cocoa. What do you expect? But it was fine. As a bonus, I burned about 300 calories, because ice skating is work. A word to the wise, though: the lines are ridiculously long on the weekends. I've seen them. But Tuesday is College Night so, while I am glad I chose a weeknight, it's probably better to do with a different weeknight. I can't wait to do this again next year.


Cost: $25
Value: $52
Savings: $27
Total Estimated Deal Savings: $902

Waverly Oaks Athletic Club

The Deal: $30 for 20 visits to Waverly Oaks Athletic Club, to be used by June 6.

Some people would say, "Wow. You can visit the gym 20 times in one month, so that's not much of a deal." Well, my friend, if you can say that with a straight face, you go to the gym far more frequently than I do. I also suspect that you don't really live in Boston, since I've yet to find a gym with a pool for $30/month or less - and this place does have a lovely lap pool, which I have been thoroughly enjoying. So, what I've really gotten here is not one month's worth of gym visits for $30, but four months, which would usually cost me at least $20/month (for a gym I wouldn't enjoy as much). The best thing about this deal is that, unlike the Meta Body Pass, you don't have to make reservations in advance. You can go whenever you want. The worst thing about this deal is that, unlike the Meta Body Pass, you don't have to make reservations in advance. You can go whenever you want. Which, for some of us, is probably not as often as it should be. It's not as easy as I'd like it to be to convince myself to go - then again, I was able to make this deal last quite awhile, so I didn't have to sign up for a regular gym contract.

Waverly Oaks is actually one of this nicer gyms that I've been to in recent years. They have guest passes and promotions, so it may be worth checking out, even without the Groupon. They also offer corporate rebates, student discounts, couples discounts, and you may be able to get a discount from your health insurance company. They have three tiers of membership - I like the pool, and I love that they give you towels when you forget one, and have hair dryers, deodorant, and hair spray in the locker room (not to mention the super awesome thingy that swirls your swimsuit around and makes it 100% dry so you can leave it in the car for a couple of days). But I don't necessarily need a women's-only workout area, racketball courts, or my own private locker, so Gold membership doesn't have to be for everyone. They do require long-term contracts, so I appreciate this opportunity to check them out in advance.

The facility is great. In addition to the lap pool and locker room, there's a sauna, and a hot tub, and a steam room. Pick your poison. There are quite a few showers - I've never had trouble getting one. The ground floor has plenty of weight machines and free weights (also a boxing room, which is cool). Head up a level, and there are racketball courts, treadmills, exercise bikes, and rooms for the workout classes. There's also a bunch of stuff I haven't gotten around to exploring yet - there are apparently pool tables somewhere. I still have a few more days on this one. I probably won't make it all 20 times, but at least I was able to explore the gym, and I do feel better and stronger for the workouts that I did get (and I got to feel less guilty about eating things like homemade beignet).

Cost: $30
Estimated Value (per Groupon): $300
Estimated Savings: $270
Total Estimated Deal Savings: $870

Petit Robert Bistro

The Deal: $20 for $40 at Petit Robert Bistro in Brighton. On top of that, Gilt City gave me a deal since it was my first purchase, and they had some other special going on, so I wound up paying only $10.

The best thing about this deal is that they offer them all the time. I get emailed deals from Petit Robert Bistro probably about once a month, from the various sites that offer them. There are also sometimes options - I believe you can get more than 50% off on some deals, if you pay more. So, keep an eye out. You can probably easily get a deal for this place, and you won't have to wait for someone to repost it on a resale site. The worst thing about this deal is the parking - if you aren't able to take the B line, and you're not willing to pay for valet, be prepared for the possibility of having to walk for awhile (unless you happen to have a Brighton resident's parking sticker).

The other thing to be careful about at this place is that it's very easy to exceed the $40 face value on the voucher, as several entrees are more than $20. But, if you're determined, you can get a flavorful and enjoyable meal, within the limits of the voucher (but you probably shouldn't order a $30 bottle of wine, like we did).

The menu is smell, but even a picky eater such as myself was able to find plenty to eat. I agonized over the choices. I actually was planning to work on my new year's resolution to try new things, since I figure that part of the joy of half price dining is to try things I wouldn't ordinarily eat but, alas, I couldn't quite bring myself to eat calf's liver. Maybe next time. For some reason, the menu made me think that the dishes didn't come with any sides - maybe this is a personal problem. So, we ordered a side of mini Brussel sprouts (the optional cream sauce is not necessary, but it is delicious). The waiter was friendly, funny, and helpful. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. That means that I was pleasantly surprised to find that I received mashed potatoes and veggies with my meal. We had leftovers, which doesn't often happen with me and French food. I'd love to go back (but I don't think it's right to buy a Groupon for the same place every few weeks, since the idea for me is to try new places).

Cost: $10
Value: $40
Savings: $30
Total Estimated Deal Savings: $600

Taberna de Haro in Brookline

The Deal: $20 Dining Credit at Taberno De Haro. Chef's choice of Tapa during the meal, plus a $10 gift card to be used during the next visit.

I admit - I misread this deal before I bought it. I saw "tapas," and I got so excited that I didn't realize that I wasn't paying $10 for $20 worth of food. When I realized my mistake, I was a little disappointed - I almost didn't go to use it. Still, I had already paid, the place is easily accessible on the Green Line, and the menu looked good, so I called a couple of friends and headed on over to see what it was like. This was actually my first-ever tapas experience.

From what I hear, a tapas restaurant typically involves a lot of small, cheap plates with different things on them. As a result, I got a bit of sticker shock when I looked at some of the menu items. Taberna de Haro does have some small plates, which are fairly cheap, but they also have some more meal-sized portions. The waitress was very nice when we asked her about the portion size - she didn't try to make us feel either cheap or stupid. The higher dollar items are, as might be anticipated, able to be eaten as a full meal. This was good to know because, otherwise, the four of us may have just ordered 4 or 5 plates each, instead of 2 or 3. The nice thing about this type of place is that, as a picky eater, I get to try all sorts of different things that I otherwise wouldn't. I'm starting to learn that I may not be quite as picky as I think I am.

After some deliberation, we feasted on well-prepared, flavorful Spanish treats, such as: warm goat cheese with extra virgin olive oil and oregano on bread; sauteed spinach with garlic, pine nuts, and golden raisins; potatoes fried with hot sauce; grilled marinated pork loin, fried eggs, and French fries; and roaded duck breast with a sherry vinegar reduction and watercress. The "free" tapa with the meal was a sort of broccoli and cheese quiche (there was another option, but I don't remember what it was) - and it was completely delicious. YUM!

Overall, my total for the meal came in right around the $20 face value of the Groupon (although, I'm not a fan of sangria, so I didn't drink). This place is in Brookline, tucked away a bit. Had I not seen the deal, I wouldn't have gone in the first place (and my belly would be sad). I still have my $10 gift card, and I can't wait to go back.

Cost: $20.
Estimated Value: $40
Estimated Savings: $20
Total Estimated Deal Savings, to Date: $570

MetaBody Fitness and Yoga Pass

The Deal: MetaBody Fitness and Yoga Pass 30 yoga classes for $20.

After moving to a new area, I was looking for a local gym that was reasonably nice, but not terribly expensive. I don't really enjoy just running on a treadmill or using an elliptical, so I won't go unless I can find a place that has a little more to offer me. So, when I found this Groupon, I was pretty excited to be able to add yoga to my normal routine of doing not much.... Or so I thought. After my purchase, I investigated, only to find that this deal was so. MUCH. MORE. It wasn't just yoga classes. It was up to 10 classes at each participating location (subject to restrictions by the individual owners). The classes are all over the Greater Boston area, and you're not limited to just yoga. I did do yoga at the Dahn Yoga Centers in Brookline and Harvard. I enjoyed it. It was different than the type of yoga I used to do at the gym. More focused on spirituality, less on the workout itself. That's OK, though, because I realize that yoga is an exercise for the mind and the body. The teachers were very good - welcoming, open, friendly, and happy to answer questions. At the Brookline location, after class ends, you can share your experiences over tea. The locations are easily accessible on the green and red lines, respectively, or the 66 and 86 buses (plus a few others, I imagine). Know your body, love yourself. I always left these sessions feeling energized and at peace.

Then, I discovered Vitality Personal Fitness, in Needham. I really can't say enough good about this place. Don't believe me? Check out my Yelp review. But the important thing is that, instead of just yoga, I got to take Kettlebells classes, core strength and training classes, and I received a great deal of personal attention that I've been able to carry with me to my personal workouts at home.

I also found a new form of exercise that I had never heard of at Capoeira Gerais Boston. There are two locations, and I started at the one located in the heart of Chinatown. This was probably the most thorough and demanding workout I've ever had - despite not being any good at it. I am the least coordinated person you will ever meet. I literally fell on my head in this class at least a couple of times. Still, I always left the sessions feeling like I had learned something and gotten an excellent workout. Bonus: everyone there was super nice, and no one ever laughed at me - even when I fell on my head. Rates vary by package, but you can average about $15 per class if you buy a full set. Thus, I got my money's work from the entire Groupon from just two classes. http://www.yelp.com/biz/capoeira-gerais-boston#hrid:SHe0lsoT3o76FI2pk3thKw/src:self

If you're looking for something a little less out there, the Meta Body pass did include things like spin classes in Marlborough, Zumba in Medford (I went to a couple of these - unfortunately, it was too far in traffic to be worth it for me), and Boot Camp in Newton (I signed up for about 15 of these, then ended up cancelling. Who wants to work out at 6 am?).

Total cost: $20.
Approximate value: $475, to date. I still have classes left to use before the end of June, and I have saved by not having to pay for a gym membership these past few months.
Estimated savings: About $550, when all is said and done (assuming I finish using it).

I Love Deals!

Who doesn’t love saving money? I’m sure by now you’ve all heard of sites where companies offer a mass discount, if a certain number of people purchase an offered coupon (and, if you haven’t, climb out from under that rock and join us in the 21st Century). The most popular around here are sites such as Groupon®, GiltCity®, TravelZoo®, and LivingSocial®. There are also companies that aren’t exclusively group discounts, but that do offer deals, such as Yelp or Google. Over the past year or so, I admit, I’ve become completely addicted to these sites. I’ve visited Italian restaurants in the North End (delicious!), hibachi places in Needham, and tapas in Brookline. I’ve gone pole dancing, ice skating, and chocolate tasting. I’ve got tickets to food truck festivals, whale watching, sushi making, and murder mystery dinner trains waiting in the wings. And I have done all of these things at half-price (or less). You can sign up for daily deals via e-mail through any of the company websites, or use their Smart Phone Apps. I get the emails, but you can also just visit the website each day to see what’s happening. Groupon also has immediate deals that you can use, so if you’re out and you’re hungry, you can use the app to find deals in your area. If you don’t use it that day? No problem - you get a refund. The coupons are only good for a limited time, but may be redeemed at face value after the expiration period.

****Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of these sites, do not own them, and get nothing from talking about how awesome them are - unless someone would like to send me gifts. I like gifts. And I love these sites.